Can Samsung's Galaxy Tab Take on the Ipad?

Samsung has debuted their Galaxy Tab, one of the first of the so-called “iPad Killers” from a major manufacturer.

The Galaxy’s specs will vary slightly from carrier to carrier, but all versions will run Google’s Android 2.2, the same OS that has helped propel some smartphones - including Samsung’s Galaxy class devices - into direct competition with the iPhone.

The announcement from Samsung also confirmed some of the other details of the Galaxy Tab. It will be smaller and lighter than the iPad with more memory and support for Adobe's Flash.

Samsung will be attempting to use much the same marketing strategy it employed for its smartphones. That stragtegy -- focusing on multiple carriers and being the anti-Apple, has helped propel Samsung's phones into competition with the iPhone.

The Galaxy Tab, provided it function as well as expected, and is priced right, should have immediate success with Android fans, many of whom are strong opponents of Apple and its products.

The true test will be whether the Galaxy can appeal to mainstream consumers who are simply looking for the best product, regardless of manufacturer.

While no official release date or pricing info has been released, Samsung did announce that the Galaxy Tab will be available from all the major wireless carriers.

This stands in stark contrast to Apple’s iPad, which is available exclusively on AT&T.

This multiple carrier strategy has been particularly effective. Many consumers who might already have purchased an iPad have held off because of Apple’s exclusive deal with AT&T. Offering the Galaxy Tab on all carriers provides Samsung with a much larger customer base to access.

Apple’s other major advantage - its significantly higher number of iPad optimized apps - will be somewhat tested by the Galaxy’s access to the Android App Market. The iPad’s head start has given it plenty of time to build up a hefty market of tablet specific apps, which has been a major part of Apple’s domination of the market.

Google, in fact, has gone on the record as stating that many of its current apps are not optimized for tablets, which could hurt the Galaxy Tab’s chances of catching the iPad in the tablet market.

Samsung, however, has compensated by specifically targeting the Galaxy as a media consumption device. The company has signed deals with NBC Universal, MTV, and Warner to provide television and movie content, with more deals expected to be announced soon. The Galaxy Tab will allow users to rent or buy TV shows or movies through Media Hub.

The Galaxy is the first major competitor to the iPad and will be watched closely. The tablet market is very new, with the iPad only having been released in April. Still, its runaway success surprised many experts - it sold 3 million units in less than 3 months. The iPad’s success has spurred many of the major tech manufacturers, including HP, Microsoft, Dell, and now Samsung, to develop tabs of their own.

The Galaxy Tab’s success, or lack thereof, will go a long way toward determining if there really is a tablet market, or if the iPad is the market.

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